A survey of the butterfly fauna of Jatun Sacha, Ecuador (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea)

Abstract

The first extensive butterfly survey of the upper Río Napo basin in eastern Ecuador was conducted from 1990 to 1993. A total of 811 species was recorded at Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve. Based on species richness comparisons with a similar site in southern Peru and extrapolations from ithomiine diversity, Jatun Sacha is estimated to have approximately 1300 species of butterflies. Species richness is compared with two other Amazonian sites (Pakitza, Peru, 1300 species and Cacaulandia, Brazil, 843 species). Species and generic compositions are more similar between Pakitza and Jatun Sacha than Cacaulandia. This similarity may be due to environmental factors. A greater percentage of Nymphalidae and a lower percentage of Hesperiidae and Lycaenidae occur at the two somewhat disturbed sites (Jatun Sacha and Cacaulandia) than the less disturbed site (Pakitza). Of the 228 species common to all three sites, more nymphalid butterfly species